Salut and the Future of Archaeology in Oman

By Alessandra Avazini

Interest in the archaeology of South East Arabia arose a little more than fifty years ago. The region – the gateway to the Indian Ocean – had previously been left at the margins of Ancient Near East’s history.

The site of Salut first came into the view of archaeologists in Oman during the early 1970s, thanks to the pioneering surveys of a team from Harvard University. But extensive excavations only began more than 30 years later, when the Italian Mission to Oman (IMTO, University of Pisa) picked up the baton, with the invaluable support of the Office of His Excellency the Advisor to HM the Sultan for Cultural Affairs.

The IMTO had already accumulated substantial work experience in Oman before getting to Salut. In 1996 it started the still ongoing investigation of the ancient South Arabian port of Sumhuram, located along the coast of Dhofar.

Against this background, it was clear that a long-term project like that at Salut was destined to provide fundamental information on ancient Omani history. In the almost complete absence of direct textual data from Bronze and Iron Age South East Arabia, only stratigraphic excavation can enlighten the region’s past.

Ten years of archaeological research (2004-2014) have finally led to the discovery of a complex of archaeological features that have revealed entirely new aspects of South East Arabian history. At the center of this is what has been named the ‘castle’ of Salut (Husn Salut), the most impressive Iron Age (roughly 1300-300 BCE) fortification in the whole of South East Arabia. Several tombs crowning the crest of Jabal Salut (the hill that faces the Iron Age site to the northeast) were fully excavated and reconstructed, as well as a small, likely Late Iron Age (650-300 BCE) shrine that had been erected directly above a cluster of dismantled tombs.

The scope of the IMTO’s involvement at Salut gradually widened over the years and in 2010 the investigation of an Early Bronze Age tower site (ST1; roughly 2450-2100/2000 BCE), located some 300 meters to the northwest of Husn Salut, was begun. Extensive excavations continued until late 2015, bringing to light a complex water management system the scale of which must be defined as monumental.

The recently published book In the heart of Oman. The Castle of Salut now provides a first general overview of the archaeological discoveries. After the publication of a series of strictly scholarly papers, this books aims at presenting the sites and their scientific importance to a wider public. The book is also connected to a virtual museum online.

Since the site holds a key place in Omani traditions, connected to the defeat of the Persians by the Arabs, the book opens with an overview of legendary sources about Salut. An ancient tradition reports that Solomon, son of David, during one of his mythical journeys, landed on the Salut plain. From the heaven, he saw the castle of Salut, inhabited only by an eagle. Then Solomon ordered to the Jinn to dig a great number of aflāj (the water channels typical of the Iron Age in Oman), with the aim to bring fertility to the land.

Centuries later, the plain of Salut was theatre of the battle of Salut, the most important event in the Omani history. This epic, open-field battle was fought between the Arabic tribe of the Azd, leaded by Malik bin Fahm, and the Persians, whose army included many elephants. The victory of Malik bin Fahm marked the end of the Persian occupation and opened the country to the newly born Islam.

Other chapter discuss the surrounding environments, water management techniques, and trading contacts with other countries (especially Mesopotamia, South East Iran and the Indus Valley), followed by a series of essays dealing with the most interesting archaeological issues and materials from Salut, laid out in chronological order.

One contribution is also dedicated to restoration. The preservation and the promotion of the archaeological heritage of Oman have always been among the IMTO’s priorities and all sites the IMTO has worked at were not only excavated but also extensively restored.

Restorations were conducted at pace with ongoing excavations, with constant interaction between IMTO’s architects and archaeologists. No restoration is possible without full understanding of the archaeology. This has resulted in sites that are now prominent landmarks that can be safely visited – and, again, understood – by tourists.

Although excavations at Husn Salut and ST1 have ended, the involvement of the IMTO at Salut is ongoing. In December 2015 investigations were restarted in the proximity of Husn Salut, revealing that the whole hill is occupied by an extensive terraces system that extends onto the adjacent plain and which includes some monumental features. The main Iron Age settlement of the ancient oasis of Bisya (labelled Qaryat Salut) was thus discovered, directly connected with the Husn and prominent among the other smaller sites located during previous surveys conducted by the IMTO.

The importance of this discovery can hardly be overestimated. Together with the Husn, the impressive Iron Age complex is thus far the largest discovered in all of South East Arabia.

A programme of long-term excavations has already been planned and began in January 2016. Michele Degli Esposti is the chief archaeologist in this phase of IMTO’s excavations. This new challenge for the IMTO team will be undertaken within the framework of a rapidly developing Omani archaeology, far different from 1996 and even 2004. Also due to the political situations in several Middle Eastern countries, numerous new projects are being launched in Oman, greatly enlarging the number of specialists directly involved in the study of the country’s past.

Even more important is the fact that local authorities have developed an awareness of the necessity of rescue archaeology and are now involved in all major development projects. This will ensure the preservation of otherwise threatened heritage.

These two trends will surely lead to a great boost in Omani archaeology, providing a wealth of new data that will give South East Arabia the role it deserves among the other great areas of the Ancient Near East.

Alessandra Avazini is Chair Professor of Semitic Philology at the University of Pisa and director of the Italian Mission to Oman (IMTO).

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